The St. Louis Cardinals are going through an historic season Neighborsdaybloomberg, and it’s not even their first one. In fact, they’re halfway through a 12-year run of major-league success. The franchise’s rise from minor league obscurity to annual contention has been a smooth transition for manager Mike Matheny. It’s helped that he has a strong track record with college players — and with good reason. EVERYONE in St. Louis knows all about the Cardinals’ recent history of regional success. The team won the World Series in 2014, one year after hosting the U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Childress Park. This past summer, the Cardinals played host to a record crowd of 48,000 for both home and road games, setting an MLB attendance record for an away game and also tying an Opening Day record for total fans (39,764). But what makes these momentous seasons come together is that this team isn’t just any old team performing at its peak — it’s playing its best baseball ever! And it started last week against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium in St. Louis!
The Cardinals won their 13th World Series in 12 years
When the St. Louis Cardinals won their 13th World Series in 12 years, it was their most recent in a long line of major-league teams. Teams that have won the World Series twice — the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox — have all won it in that time, as have teams that have won it three times. The Cardinals, though, have been in the game longer than any other team, and they are the only one to have been a part of theuzz. The Cardinals’ run of major-league success spanned 12 years, starting in 1919 and ending in 2011. The last time the club won the World Series was in 2012, when it faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The pace of success has been especially great during the team’s 122-game winning streak from 2011 through 2014. That streak included five straight games of 10 or more runs, as well as six of less than 10 runs. The Cardinals’ run of success was also notable for the fact that it was the first run of success for a team that never won a pennant — the St. Louis Diamante, as it was affectionately called, never made it to the World Series.
The Cardinals’ recent success goes beyond wins and losses
In addition to the World Series win, the Cardinals also hosted the Red Sox in St. Louis in 2011, winning a wild card game that year as well. The combined teams’ wins that year were more than double the total amount the team had recorded in the previous season (1910). The huge success that year, as well as the club’s dominance in the National League, would help further strengthen Matheny’s reputation as a successful manager.
The club is back from its most successful era
The St. Louis Cardinals are also back from the most successful time in team history, as they are one of only three National League teams to win the World Series in both the regular and top-eight formats in the same season. The other teams to win in the playoffs in that year were the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, who also won the World Series. The Cardinals also won in double-semester schedule (1919, 1920), which adds even more context to the club’s recent success.
Cards Lead All-Time Attendance – 7,000 for home games
The St. Louis Cardinals are also one of only three National League teams to lead the overall attendance for their respective seasons in each of the past two years. The other two teams to lead the overall attendance for each of the past two seasons are the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, who also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also also
Cards Lead All-Time Win Rate – 98.3%
The St. Louis Cardinals have led the MLB in winning percentage three times in the past four years — in 2011, 2012 and now this season. Only the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels have led in winning percentage more times in a season than the Cardinals have in the past four years. The Cardinals have also led in wins 50.9% of the time and in losses 36.1%. That’s one of the more impressive things about the Cardinals — they have been true to their word when it comes to winning percentage.
Best Game of the Season – 9/6 vs. Padres
The ninth inning of September 20, 2011, is one of baseball’s all-time great games. It’s a game that has been played since 1892 and which will always be associated with the San Diego Padres — and their home ballpark, Petco Park. The Padres are one of three teams to ever win nine games in a row in a season, a mark that is also shared with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. The last two seasons have been the most successful Padres (2011-12), with that year ending in a World Series appearance for the team and then a trip to the American League Championship Series before being eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
Final Words: St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series Winning Streak Continues
The St. Louis Cardinals have been playing playoff ball for a quarter of a century, and it’s time to play against the team that has dominated the majors for the past decade. The San Diego Padres are the most successful team in the Majors, having won 11 World Series titles and qualified for the past eight World Series (the most recent being in 2017). The Cardinals face off against them in the World Series for the first time in their back-to-back campaigns, and for the first time in their history, it will be a home-and-home series. The St. Louis Cardinals are playing the best baseball of their lives, and it’s time to show up. The San Diego Padres are a tough, consistent team who plays hard ball and has shown excellent resilience under pressure throughout the years, and they will be a tough team to take down. The Cardinals are going to be back to their best, and it’s going to be a classic series.
